Two different types of parallel sessions are going to be held:
- Contributed paper sessions
- Special Topic Sessions (STSs).

Contributed paper sessions last 1:30 hrs. and each presentation is given 15 minutes. Each session may include either 4 or 5 presentations. In the former case, the discussion is given 30 minutes; in the latter 15 minutes.

Some contributed paper sessions last 1:00 hour and include three 15-minute presentations plus 15-minute discussion. One session is entirely devoted to show a documentary.

Time is scheduled in order to allow participants to move from one session to another and to attend the presentations they are interested in. Therefore strictly keeping the allotted time is very important. Session chairs are instructed to signal presenters about the remaining time and to ensure the regular development of sessions.

The STSs are invited sessions on relevant issues of quality in Official Statistics. They are organised by outstanding experts on the matter. These sessions present contributions by a number of authors and might have specific internal organisation. Therefore time for presentations and discussion may be different from the contributed paper sessions. One STS is entirely devoted to show the results of the "2008 International Total Survey Error Workshop".